by Mary Jimenez

This feature is a continuation of the post-race coverage of the Tinman Louisiana Triathlon in the July issue of Runner Triathlete News. For more details on the event, pick up a copy of the July issue of RTN.

What do you need to put on a successful USA Triathlon Age-group National Championship?

Ask Shreveporter Mike Hutcheson, who is questioning his sanity after acquiring not one but two national championships -- with himself at the helm.

Both the 2003 and 2004 USA Triathlon Age-Group Championships will be held in Shreveport on the Tinman Louisiana course, around the suburban area of Champion Lake. More than 1,000 triathletes typically compete in the event each year.

"It's one of those things," said Hutcheson, the race director for the Tinman Louisiana. "You strive to be the best at whatever you can do. This (Nationals) was another step."

Volunteer coordinator Kathleen Wiener expects needing maybe 200 additional volunteers to the 250 she organized this year for the Tinman. She'd like to mention each by name if she could.

"A race is not possible without volunteers," said Wiener, an elite cyclist. "What participants remember most about a race are things that are mostly made possibly only by volunteer support."

Many of the competitors did thank the volunteers and were especially grateful to the aid stations on the run, which included a station with dancing Hula girls and one with cold wet towel handouts to stave the 90-degree heat from taking them down. A volunteer who lived on the course, washed several hundred towels during the event so that each racer would get one.

A safe course is another must for a national event. Most of the competitors gave Champion Lake high marks as a national venue.

"I liked this course a lot," said Shreveporter Patrick Marr, who has raced age-group world competition several times. "I like the multiple loop bike course because you can watch your competition. And the shaded run through the neighborhood was great."

The concerns on the course by racers were the shallow lake swim, which proved to more of a nuisance that anything else, and the four 180 degree turns on the bike course.

The bike course was a closed course on a four-lane section of highway that travels parallel to the Red River and leads into the horizon of the glitzy casino buildings along the downtown riverfront. It was plenty wide, but included four 180-degree turns. Experienced racers were unfazed by the corners, but inexperienced racers voiced some intimidation.

Russ Walker, an experienced cyclist, who covered the Tinman 40K bike course in 58:45 as part of a team, said always use the whole road. Don't try and cut a tight corner.

"To make the fastest turn, stay in your aero bars as long as possible and then shift up a few cogs," Walker said. "Then at the last possible moment come up off the aero bars, break speed (rely heavily on the front break) and bring your left leg to your chest. Then steer to the extreme right of the road. Go around the cone and to the extreme opposite side of the road."

Less experienced racers may want to slow down sooner. Walker also suggests familiarizing yourself with the technical aspects of any course you might be racing on, whether you just drive the course or take a ride on it.

There will be more than 400 additional bikes racing at the National event, but Hutcheson doesn't see this as a problem.

"The way nationals are currently held is with the waves in 15 minute intervals," he said. "So there won't be any more riders on the road and there will probably be less."